Yuri

I don’t know how long I’ve been zoning out in class lately. I guess… I just figured I could study on my own, y’know?

I’ve finally gotten used to being at Roseclair after spending so much time walking around with Maya and Rin.

Speaking of which—our hangout is officially set for next Saturday! I can’t wait!

As I walked into the cafeteria, I spotted Maya and Rin at our usual table.

“Hey, Yuri! Over here!” Rin called, waving me over.

I was about to head toward them when someone stepped in front of me.

“Yuri.”

I looked up—Sunghoon?

“Sunghoon?”

“You dropped this earlier.” He held out a hairpin. My eyes widened as I quickly took it from him.

“Thank you…” I murmured, clutching it tightly before heading toward the girls.

In the back of my mind, I felt a twist of frustration—angry at myself for dropping something so important. That pin was all I had left from my parents. The last piece that connected me to them.

I sighed, sitting down beside Maya and Rin.

“Hey, you okay?” Maya asked.

I nodded wordlessly.

Then, the two of them suddenly burst into laughter.

“What?” I blinked.

“You’re so cute when you space out!” Maya giggled, pulling me into a hug.

I nearly choked on my food. “Seriously?” I shot her a look. She just laughed harder.

Then Rin chimed in, “By the way, what’s up with you and Hoon?”

Maya wiggled her eyebrows. “Someone’s jealous~”

I caught the weird look Rin gave her and couldn’t help but laugh.

“Don’t worry, Rin! He just gave me something I dropped. We’re not close or anything.”

“Yet,” Maya added teasingly.

I nudged her arm. “Shut up.”

Rin smiled warmly. “Yuri, don’t be afraid to make friends. I actually wouldn’t mind if you got close to him.”

My heart melted a little. I really did choose the right friends.

As we chatted about our day like usual, I suddenly felt like someone was watching us. A heavy gaze.

I looked around, but no one stood out.

Weird.

From the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse—Jungwon? He was just sitting with his friends. Two of them looked familiar… I think Sunghoon and Sunoo were at their table too.

“Yuri, we should head to class. Break’s almost over,” Maya said, standing up.

“Right,” I nodded, following her.

“Oh, by the way—who’s your research partner?”

“…Research partner?”

———

And just like that, my day took a turn.

I sat on a bench outside the school, sulking as I wondered who my partner was supposed to be.

If only I’d paid more attention…

I got up and started walking toward the school gate when someone tapped my shoulder.

As if on cue, my heart skipped a beat.

“Walk with me?” Jungwon asked casually.

I bit my lip. Should I trust him?

“…Okay.”

We started walking through the gate together.

“Where do you live?”

I kept my eyes on the ground, kicking at some fallen leaves left behind by the earlier rain. “Oh, just nearby. We walk straight for a bit, then turn left. My house is the first one on the curve.”

“Got it.”

It was a quiet walk—but not the awkward kind. I didn’t really mind the silence. I just… didn’t know how to start a conversation.

“So, about the project… do you want to do it at my place or yours?”

I stopped in my tracks.

“Huh? What project?”

He flicked my forehead.

“Ow…”

“We’re partners, silly.”

My mouth formed an O. “Ohhh! Right!!”

I felt a weird rush of happiness but tried to hide my smile.

“Let’s do it at your place,” I said quickly, thinking it’d be better than having my dad interrupt.

“Alright, sure,” he replied.

We turned the corner and reached my house.

“You walk home every day?”

“Mhm. I walk to and from school every day.”

I reached my door and opened it slightly, turning back to find Jungwon still standing there.

“Bye, Jungwon. Thank you.”

“Bye, Yuri. Goodnight!” he said with a smile that made my stomach flutter.

I stepped inside and shut the door behind me—only to be greeted by the familiar sight of my father on the floor, empty bottles scattered around him.

“…Okay. Let’s clean this up.”

I quietly picked up the bottles, swept the floor, and lifted my father onto the sofa, making sure he was comfortable. I laid a blanket over him.

I could feel the tears threatening to spill.

“Goodnight, Dad…” I whispered softly.

———

Han Yuri.

Yuri didn’t remember much about her real parents.

She was only a year old when everything changed. Her father was sick—really sick—and he had to stay in the hospital for a long time. Her mother stayed with him, taking care of him every day.

No one ever told her the full story, but she heard bits and pieces as she grew older. People said her parents were kind, quiet people who loved her very much. But love wasn’t always enough. Her father passed away, and her mother… well, no one really talked about her mother. Just that she was “gone too soon.”

After that, Yuri was taken to an orphanage. She didn’t remember who brought her there. She just remembered the quiet rooms, the cold nights, and the way adults spoke in soft voices around her like she might break if they were too loud.

She didn’t stay long. A few months later, she was adopted.

But not alone.

She had faint memories—just feelings, really—of someone always beside her. A presence. Another child. But no one ever mentioned him again, and eventually, Yuri stopped asking. Maybe it was just her imagination.

Her new home was fine at first. Her adoptive mother was kind, always smiling and gentle but she had to leave the country soon after, it was fine at first. But when her stepfather entered the picture, everything shifted.

He didn’t like noise. Didn’t like questions. Didn’t like her.

He had a sharp voice and a heavier hand. He didn’t hit often—but when he did, it left more than just bruises. Yuri learned quickly how to stay quiet, how to be small, how to disappear into the corners of the house.

Her mother never said much. Maybe she was scared too.

Yuri didn’t talk about it. Not to teachers. Not to neighbors. Not to anyone.

She smiled when people looked. Laughed when she had to.

But when she was alone, she’d sometimes stare at the ceiling and wonder—why couldn’t she remember her real family? What really happened back then?

────୨ৎ────

Word count : 1110.
SOTD : Blossom by Enhypen.
QOTD : If yall could master any one skill, what would it be?

-To master alot of languages cuz it'd be so cool to understand most of what others are saying, being multilingual is great !